Causes of Sleep Talking and Sleepwalking

Sleep talking, also known as somniloquy, refers to the phenomenon of speaking while asleep. According to psychologists, sleep talking is not related to dreaming. Almost all instances of sleep talking occur during the deep sleep stage, which does not involve dreaming.

Therefore, it is more appropriate to call it "sleep talking" rather than "dream talking."

The exact causes of sleep talking are still unknown.

Sleepwalking is a peculiar phenomenon where individuals engage in actions such as getting out of bed and then returning to bed while still asleep. Although it is called sleepwalking, it is not actually related to dreaming. Brainwave recordings indicate that sleepwalking occurs during stages 3 and 4 of sleep, which are deep sleep stages.

Since dreaming does not occur during deep sleep, the term "sleepwalking" is more accurate than "dreamwalking."

Sleepwalking is more common in children, usually between the ages of 6 and 12. It is not a severe condition and is often outgrown without medical intervention. Sleepwalkers remain asleep during their actions and have no awareness of their nighttime movements upon waking up.

One strange aspect of sleepwalking is that individuals can engage in complex activities, such as opening doors, going outside, handling objects, and avoiding obstacles, without causing harm to themselves. After completing their activities, they return to bed and continue sleeping.

Several years ago, there was a male student in a dormitory at Taipei Normal University who sleepwalked at night and managed to remove a lampshade from the ceiling without falling off the bed or getting injured.

If there is a sleepwalking child at home, there is no need to worry excessively. Ensuring home safety and securely locking doors at night is sufficient.

The exact reasons for sleepwalking remain unknown. However, studies by psychologists have found that other family members of sleepwalkers often experience sleepwalking as well, suggesting a possible genetic link.

There was a case where a family gathered for a holiday, slept in separate rooms, and woke up the next morning to find everyone sleeping in the living room without any recollection.